Beta Gideon hurried away, face pale with fear of his Alpha’s rage, nearly stumbling in his haste to escape.
As soon as he left, Shirley glided closer with practiced grace, her ceremonial dress rustling softly against the marble floor.
She maintained her usual gentle demeanor—head slightly bowed, ice-blue eyes wide with concern, every movement calculated to appear harmless.
Her hand slipped softly around Anderson’s arm, her touch deliberately light and soothing.
“What’s wrong, my love?” she murmured, voice honey-sweet. “Did something happen to Rosalie? I knew she’d be upset about me standing in for the ceremony. She’s always been… sensitive.”
Her lips curved in false sympathy. “But this is an important pack event. All the neighboring Alphas are here, the elders are watching. Even if she’s angry, she shouldn’t try to ruin this moment with false rumors about rogue attacks! It’s so… beneath her.”